April 2009
MTAC MARIN BRANCH NEWSLETTER

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

President: Elenor Barcsak
Tel. 415-383-0125
1065 Erica Road, Mill Valley, C.A. 94941
Email: zenezest@aol.com

We eliminated the Student Recital Fees starting in September 2009 yet we came up with a way to balance the books. We put our heads together to think about the fact that we are non-profit and everything in the cost department is going up! In order to be fairer to everyone concerned, we voted to increase out branch dues. Now mind you, they have not been increased in ten years! With the cost of the rentals increasing (for example some Churches), we have to do something to cover these costs. The Branch dues have been raised to $45.00.

Up periscope! - Take a look at these announcements:

Kuei-Ling Pomerleau has the proud announcement from the Music Chest Competition: 6 of her students are winners. Daria Hoang, R.J. Pearce, Mathew Lee, Katrina Lee, Kuni Migimatsu, Toki Migimatsu. Congratulations to Kuei-Ling and Bravos to all.

Margaret Bean Davis Competition News: Chair Kuei-Ling Pomerleau.

2009 MTAC-Marin MBD Music Competition Results
Chair: Kuei-Ling Pomerleau
Co-Chair: Hilary Thompson

Level 4
First Place: Daria Hoang (Teacher: Kuei-Ling Pomerleau)
Second Place: Katherine Zhao (Teacher: James Marchand)
Honorable Mention: Matthew Lee (Teacher: Kuei-Ling Pomerleau)

Level 5
Honorable Mention: Katarina Lee (Teacher: Kuei-Ling Pomerleau)

Level 6
First Place: Kuni Migimatsu (Teacher: Kuei-Ling Pomerleau)

Level 7 and Up
First Place: Toki Migimatsu (Teacher: Kuei-Ling Pomerleau)
Second Place: R. J. Pearce (Teacher: Kuei-Ling Pomerleau)
Honorable Mention: Zachary Mathe (Teacher: Florence Aquilina)

Congratulations to these students and their teachers.

We had a large turnout and an exciting competition, a special Thank You to all of the teachers that participated and assisted for this successful event: Florence Aquilina, Jennifer Grant, Hilary Thompson, James Marchand, Albena Naydenova, June Choi Oh, Kuei-Ling Pomerleau, Tom Turinia, Barbara Wilkes and Virginia Wilson.

We would like to express our most sincere appreciation for your support in this program.  Judging from the quality of the competition, we can be proud to say that the teachers in Marin County are of the highest quality and in the light of the superb results of the musical event, their dedication to music has been made manifest.   Bravo!

Mark your Calendars and Flag these dates:
Double check times and locations!

April 4 a Saturday is CM, at the COM all day. (Remember to bring food for the reception tables). Your work assignment hours are based on your original number of students submitted.

April 10th, Friday10: AM. Board meeting at Elenor’s home: 1065 Erica Rd Mill Valley

Saturday April 25th Branch Honor’s at JB Piano 2:00PM

Sunday April 26th MBDavis Winner’s Recital 2:30PM Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church (corner Sycamoure and Camino Alto Mill Valley). The invited YAG Guest Artist also performs.

The Teen Recital chaired by Gini Wilson was really fine. The students were lucky to play on a 9’2” Grotrian Piano that was thrilling to hear.

The studios represented were Paul Agricola, Karen Fournier, Tom Turinia, Gini Wilson. Thanks to all who participated and to Glenn Woodruff who made a huge effort to make the Show room into a concert hall. Well-done Glenn.

The Adult Recital chaired by Karen Fournier was relaxed and fun. The studios represented were Paul Agricola, Karen Fournier and Steven Shen. The roving reported was out with a bout of the flu and could not attend.

The Mu Phi Epsilon presented a program featuring winners from our MB Davis Scholarship Program. Winners performed from the following studios including James Marchand, Barbara Wilkes, Gini Wilson, Bonnie Rasmussen, Cassandra Mech and Rebecca Viebrook . The presentation was held March 21/09 in a private home in Novato. We are grateful for the generous contributions by Mu Phi Epsilon to both our Discovery Scholarship and MBDavis Scholarship. This was a wonderful performance opportunity for our talented winners.

Mary Fleming played a concert of romantic music at Villa Marin on March 24th in the unit where Susan Cole is recovering from her stroke. Susan had a severe Stroke in January and although unable to communicate verbally, is making great progress. She enjoys listening to music and has started playing the piano with her left hand. She is working tirelessly at her therapy and deserves a round of applause for her bravery in this extremely adverse situation” Kudos to Mary for sharing her talent in this way.

MARGARET BEAN DAVIS MUSIC COMPETITION
WINNERS’ RECITAL

MBD MUSIC COMPETITION WINNERS’ RECITAL will be held on:

Sunday, April 26th, 2009, 2:30pm.
Location: Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church, 410 Sycamore Avenue, Mill Valley.

In keeping with tradition, we have invited a guest pianist to perform at the Winners’ Recital. This year we are delighted to have Michael Delfin, a member of the Young Artist Guild (YAG), the highest achievement in the Certificate of Merit program of MTAC. Only a few students are selected each year for this honor. Please encourage your students to take advantage of this wonderful musical fare and rich learning opportunity.

Michael Delfin’s program will include music of Scarlatti, Liszt, Chopin and one of Michael’s own award winning compositions. This recital will be a special treat for Marin County teachers and students, don’t miss it. Free admission.

Michael Delfin received four significant state-level performance honors in 2008: top prize in the Celia Méndez Young Pianist’s Beethoven Competition; membership in the MTAC Young Artist Guild; pianist in the Friends of Today’s Music; and the McGaughey Platinum Prize in the Glendale Piano Competition. Prior to 2008, Michael attended Aspen Music Festival and School; won MTAC State Composition Contest; performed at Riverside 2008 State Convention YCG of his piano composition entitled Forest Fire; received the honor of YCG membership.

His past awards include: first prize in Sylvia M. Ghiglieri Memorial Piano Competition; State Convention Contemporary Music Seminar; State Composition Contest; MTAC State Convention Panel Honors and YCG membership; KVPR Young Artists Spotlight performances; guest artist for the American Beethoven Society and the Santa Barbara Beethovenfest. He has participated in master classes with Paul Badura-Skoda, Rex Cooper, Misha Dichter, Stewart Gordon, Sujeeva Hapugalle, Joseph Kalichstein, Yoheved Kaplinsky, John O’Conor, John Perry, Ann Schein, Craig Sheppard, Rita Sloan, and Virginia Weckstrom.

Michael Delfin has studied piano for ten years, the past eight with Carol Oaks. He is currently a high school senior at Campus Christian Academy and the ongoing pianist at Grace Bible Church of Fresno.

Announcing the 12th Annual Sylvia M. Ghiglieri Piano Competition Saturday, May 2, 2009

California State University, Stanislaus Turlock, California

The Ghiglieri Competition is intended to recognize and promote the musical growth of promising young pianists in grades 5-12.

Prize winners will receive cash awards as well as scholarships to attend Summer Music at Stanislaus. To learn more about the summer camp, see http://web.csustan.edu/music/camp/

To view competition rules and application, simply follow the link below. To enter the competition, download an application form, print, and mail it in with your application fee.

http://www.csustan.edu/GhiglieriPianoCompetition/
For more information reply to: sthomas@csustan.edu
Any questions regarding the rules or any aspect of the competition should be directed to:

Dr. Stephen Thomas

California State University, Stanislaus

Department of Music

One University Circle

Turlock, CA 95382

(209) 667-3429

Email: sthomas@csustan.edu

COMPOSITION AND IMPROVISATION CELEBRATION

Date:  May 16th
Time:  4:00 PM
Host:  John Boyajy
Location:  385 San Marin Drive, Novato – 897-1195
RSVP to:  Christina Bradley – 302-0396 – musicamarin@pacbell.net
Deadline:  May 8th
No entry fee for this workshop.
Link to Google map

This annual recital is always a lot of fun and is designed to showcase students and teachers who write their own music and/or improvise.  We encourage anyone – from the youngest beginner to adults to teachers – to share their creativity with us.  Original compositions do not need to be written down or, if written, do not have to be played by memory.  Small ensembles welcome, preferably acoustic.  If you have students who need to perform electronic or computer-generated compositions, please contact chair Christina Bradley to make arrangements.  Individual improvisations can be in any style, but each piece should not exceed three minutes.   Teachers should bring finger food already plated for the reception afterwards.   There will be a very brief General Meeting after the reception.

MTAC STATE NEWS

Attention new members. Any new member to the branch is eligible for a special discount to be a delegate o the Convention in Santa Clara over the 4th of July weekend. First person to come forward will have the opportunity of this special offer. Call Elenor for details: 415 383-0125. Employment opportunity email sent by the MTAC State.

Please check your Teacher Information on the MTAC state web site. Log-in to the CM section. Check all entries carefully then click submit at the end. The deadline is April 15th! Do this now in case there are corrections to make through the State Office. www.mtac.org

Concert in Santa Rosa

Antonio Iturrioz

Sunday, April 26, 2009
3:00 PM

Newman Auditorium - Santa Rosa Junior College
1501 Mendocino Avenue
Santa Rosa, California 95401

$15 - $17

Godowsky: Alt Wien
Bach-Godowsky: Aria from the Violin Sonata # 3
Bach-Godowsky: Prelude and Fugue in C Minor (from
the Fifth Cello Suite)
Chopin-Godowsky: Etude, Op. 10/6, for the Left Hand
Schubert-Godowsky: Litany
Liszt: Legend # 2 St. Francis of Paul Walking
on the Waves
Scriabin: Nocturne for the Left Hand
Hofmann: Nocturne (Complaint)
Sepos: Tango Blue
Liszt: Reminiscences from Bellini's Opera "Norma"

www.concertsgrand.com

NEW CLASSICAL MUSIC WEB SITE

(Commercial Announcement)

The North Bay has a new web site for all aspects of classical music – www.classicalsonoma.org.

Contained in this user-friendly site are concert reviews and listings, information on almost 40 presenting organizations, and photos.  Presenters can update schedules and events directly on-line without delays, including uploading art work.  This exciting new way to publicize MMTA events was designed by Santa Rosa violinist and attorney John Thompson.  Currently there are eight reviewers for events in four counties, including Tiburon pianist and writer Donna Kline.

Thanks.

Terry McNeill
Classical Sonoma
Concerts Grand

GINI WILSON at Shanghai 1930

Piano for Sale

Steinway D Concert Grand $28,500

Originally made in 1881, this is a fully modern 88 note piano. In the mid 1960's the piano was restored and the soundboard, action and entire damper system were replaced by Warren Graf a well known piano technician from Colorado and Hawaii. Beautiful Rosewood finish.

The action has been recently serviced. The original ivories are perfect. Includes humidity control system.

Owned by a private party (i.e. Dmitri's estate) represented by Christopher Ris, piano technician, in San Rafael.

Call 415 454-9009 or ChrisRis@comcast.net.

Deadline for May,'09 newsletter:  April 20th

Please send items to President Elenor Barcsak 
email: zenezest@aol.com

send a note to:
1065 Erica Rd; Mill Valley, C.A. 94941.
or Tel. 415- -383-0125.

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